Four films from the Haydenfilms 2007 and 2008 Online Film Festivals will be screened during the 4th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival from Aug. 7 through 10, 2008 and during September. They include last year’s grand prize winner, “The Boot of War,” and two of the four finalists, “Blindness” and “Forgotten Souls,” as well as “Little Wings,” which is entered in this year’s festival. (A synopsis of each film follows.)

Hayden Craddolph, president and founder of Haydenfilms LLC, said its is an incredible honor for Haydenfilms to be represented by one of the world’s premier showcases for short films.

“HollyShorts is an organization devoted to showcasing the best and brightest short films of 30 minutes or less from around the globe, advancing the careers of filmmakers through screenings, networking events, and various panel and forums. This achievement further validates our online film festival concept and our ability to attract the best and brightest independent filmmakers,” said Craddolph.

“Forgotten Souls” and “Little Wings” will be screened during a special Haydenfilms Segment on Friday, Aug. 8, part of a 7 to 11 p.m. screening at the Nacional at 1645 Wilcox Blvd., Hollywood. You can RSVP for Friday night, which will also feature music videos, via email to: rsvp@hollyshorts.com.

“Blindness” will be shown in September by HollyShorts as part of a special event. Further details will be announced.

“The Boot of War,” the 2007 Haydenfilms grand-prize winning entry from France, which was entered in HollyShorts by Director Reda Mustafa, Paris, will be screened on Saturday, Aug. 9 at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theater, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, during Show Program #3 running from 4:35 to 7:20 p.m. See below to order tickets.

The HollyShorts Film Festival kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 7 with a marquee opening night celebration featuring a number of high profile short film projects.

The opening night event, which takes place at the Egyptian Theatre in conjunction with the American Cinematheque, will feature director Bill Purple’s short film “Hole in the Paper Sky,” which stars Jessica Biel (“I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry”), and Gary Marshall (“The Other Sister”); Wireimage co-founder Jeff Vespa’s short “Nosebleed,” which stars David Arquette (“Scream”) and director Alex Ferrari’s short film “Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence” voiced by Paula Garces (“Harold & Kumar”). The event will also showcase the Hollywood premiere of actor Josh Brolin’s (“No Country For Old Men,” “American Gangster") short film “X.”

The HollyShorts opening night celebration will also feature the Hollywood premiere of actor Larry Hankin’s (“Friends”) short film “The Outlaw Emmett Deemus” and director/radio personality Marty Keegan’s award-winning short film “Verboten.”

Friday, August 8, will mark the festival’s inaugural HollyShorts Music Video celebration, showcasing clips from some of the world’s fastest rising new music video directors at Nacional in Hollywood. Music video screenings will share the evenings program with Haydenfilms.

The film festival core screenings and industry panels take place at Laemmle Sunset 5 theatres Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10.

“We are stepping up our Hollywood presence in a major way this year with a marquee opening night celebration in conjunction with the American Cinematheque, a new music video category and an official a lineup of high profile short films,” said HollyShorts Film Festival director and co-founder Daniel Sol. “With networking events, super-panels and after-parties accompanying our strong lineup, we look forward to providing filmmakers, movie enthusiasts and industry executives a platform to unite, do business and have a great time!”

Recently Ranked as one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 25 Film Festivals worth the entry fee, HollyShorts received over 650 submission from 25 countries for the 2008 edition of the HollyShorts Film Festival, a festival record. Along with a strong domestic presence, the 4th annual HollyShorts Film Festival will feature a slew of shorts from the international community, with 11 countries represented.

Vying for the Best Student Short Film Award, HollyShorts has selected student projects from Cal State Northridge, UCLA, USC, Chapman Film School, Savannah College of Art and Design, Binghamton State University of New York, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New York Film Academy, AFI and Temple University. The Best Student Short Film Award will win a five-day HVX-200, HD Camera rental package from festival sponsor Martini Crew Booking.

Tickets for the Aug. 7 HollyShorts opening night celebration are on sale and can be purchased on HollyShorts.com or through the American Cinematheque at Fandango.com.

Tickets for the August 9-10 HollyShorts programs at Laemmle Sunset 5 are now available and can be purchased by visiting www.hollyshorts.com or www.laemmle.com. Complete schedule with the official selections, details on the selected films and special festival passes available on www.hollyshorts.com.

Haydenfilms, founded in 2001, is an independent film production and distribution company. Its mission is to create and foster an online network of independent and student film producers, and to provide the support and resources necessary for filmmakers to succeed. In addition to the Haydenfilms Online Film Festival, the Haydenfilms web site provides industry news, a crew database, production boards and shopping for filmmaking software and equipment. The Haydenfilms On The Road series offers further insight into and support of student and independent filmmakers.

For more details, visit www.haydenfilms.com. Or call 610-894-9639.


Synopses of the Four Films

“The Boot of War” is written and directed by Reda Mustafa, Paris, France. This 28-minute drama takes place during WWII the night before the Allies landing on the Normandy coast and tells about a wounded soldier from the airborne who is hidden in a secret spot by a French resistance family. From Decheko Films. Grand Prize Winner, Haydenfilms 3.0 Online Film Festival, 2007. Screening on Saturday, Aug. 9.

“Little Wings” is directed by Morgan Rhodes. In this 14-minute emotional tale Thomas’ mother tells him about the Legend of the Butterfly. The legend states that when whispering a wish to a butterfly and setting it free, it carries the wish to the heavens to be granted. Thomas loves butterflies and finds the escape he needs from his abusive father within the pages of his butterfly book. After saving a butterfly from a spider’s web, a stranger arrives at the farmhouse. The stranger, John, befriends Thomas and helps him make his choice between his troubled family life and the great unknown world of “joy.” Finalist, Haydenfilms 3.0 Online Film Festival, 2007. Screening on Friday, Aug. 8.

“Forgotten Souls” is a 24-minute film directed by Ricky Wood. It is the powerful story of Janek Kowalksi a survivor of the Holocaust who re-settles in Scotland from Poland. Set in 1963, Janek lives in a remote area of the Scottish Highlands in an effort to forget the horrors of the past which still haunt him. After another sleepless night in his cabin, Janek awakes to find that a mysterious package has been delivered. Entry, Haydenfilms 4.0 Online Film Festival, 2008. Screening on Friday, Aug. 8.

“Blindness” is a 32-minute short directed by Helio San Miguel. The paths of Richard, a terribly shy man, and Karen, a beautiful blind woman, accidentally cross leading to an intense and tender yet twisted love story. As their intimacy grows, a shocking development unfolds which peels off unexpected layers of their personalities and fears, and finally results in unintended and dramatic consequences for both. Finalist, Haydenfilms 3.0 Online Film Festival, 2007. Screening on Friday, Aug. 8.